What Is Interior Design and What Types Exist?

Before embarking on a major renovation, you need to understand what interior design is, what types exist, and how to combine them. The term “interior” implies a unified artistic, functional, and architectural design of a room’s internal space. It includes wall finishes with drywall decorative constructions, columns, arches, partitions, the materials used for finishing works, furniture and its layout, textile décor, all possible accessories, and lighting. Each component contributes to the overall picture of a home. The correctness of the approach to creating a harmonious image affects personal sensations and perception.

If a person wonders what interior design is, they should also realize that it involves color schemes, which can be contrasting and expressive or mysterious and calm. The style of the rooms has a huge impact on the choice of palette. A space can visually resemble a Renaissance palace, a strict office, or even a Native American wigwam. Today three main stylistic directions can be distinguished:

• Classical, formed many decades ago;
• Modern, meeting contemporary technological requirements;
• Ethnic, characteristic of each individual nationality.

To achieve a proper, harmonious design, you must rely not only on personal taste. Learning how to combine and mix styles is essential, and it starts with familiarizing yourself with the theoretical basics.

Classical stylistic direction

The term classicus in Latin means an ideal, a standard, a model. Today the category of classic is often mistakenly applied to everything that can be called traditional, conventional, or typical. Therefore it is worth learning what interior design in the classical style actually entails.

This choice means using proven design methods and techniques. It is currently the most popular because such interiors remain timeless and never go out of fashion. Four main features define the direction:

1. Clear coordination of centers—interior objects that act as the “core” of the composition, the starting point in a coordinate system. For example, if a fireplace is taken as the core, all other furniture is arranged around it, the parquet pattern converges toward it, and wall lamps are placed symmetrically on its sides. All interior elements become part of a single system that acts as an extension of the fireplace. Several centers can exist simultaneously.
2. The design uses strictly correct geometry and symmetry. To recognize a classic interior, you need to understand that the style’s character lies in symmetrical placement of architectural groups and forms. All lines are crisp, and geometry is evident.
3. Multiple light sources are employed simultaneously. The interior is illuminated not only by a ceiling chandelier but also by wall and table lamps.
4. Classic interiors are always associated with solidity and representativeness. A tendency toward luxury is especially evident in branches such as Baroque, Empire, and Rococo.

Classic style provides an excellent base for mixing with other styles. Proper use of theory will help you understand what interior design is and how to arrange it correctly.

Modern direction

It is a common misconception that modern design is always minimalist and cold, but this is far from true. A modern interior does not have to look Spartan. Today a space can be both cozy and comfortable. Statistics show that popular branches of this direction include “modern classic” and “English style.” Several key traits can be highlighted.

The main colour palette consists of white, black, and pastel tones. Bright colours are used only for accentuation. Distinctive design elements are lines. Empty space between furniture pieces or on walls should remain unfilled. Each individual object must appear unique and singular. Understanding modern interior design requires knowledge of furniture characteristics. Clean, smooth geometric forms are the hallmark of this style. Both natural and artificial materials are used equally for furniture. The style is often applied to office spaces and is ideal for furnishing small apartments.

Ethnic direction

The ethnic style is characterized by the use of household items typical of a particular nationality. This direction is popular among travel enthusiasts. There are countless branches of ethnic style, such as Japanese, Moroccan, Indian, and so on. Each reflects the way of life, culture, traditions, climate, and other specifics of a certain people.

To understand what an ethnic interior looks like, consider a single example. There is no strict canon; much depends on the designer’s imagination. Different branches can be mixed, but the key is to place accents wisely so the interior does not appear overloaded. A highly effective combination is using ethnic style together with modern design as a base. This works well for both compact and large residential spaces.